Sexual Assault Attorneys in Indiana: Your Complete Legal Guide

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Indiana gives a survivor of child sexual abuse seven years after the claim accrues, or four years after the survivor stops being dependent on the abuser, whichever is later, and an adult survivor two years. The only revival window Indiana has opened reached a single organization’s bankruptcy claimants and closed on July 1, 2025. Below are those rules as Indiana Code states them, the criminal deadlines, what to settle with a lawyer, and the Indiana firms featured on this page.

Call 911 if you are in danger. The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence toll-free line is 1-800-538-3393, and the National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673.

Indiana Code provisions below are quoted from CHILD USA’s October 2026 review. The page offers general information and does not assess any individual claim.

Child Sexual Abuse: Seven Years From Accrual or Four Years After Dependency Ends

Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4(b) provides: “Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), an action for injury to a person that results from the sexual abuse of a child must be commenced within the later of: (1) seven (7) years after the cause of action accrues; or (2) four (4) years after the person ceases to be a dependent of the person alleged to have performed the sexual abuse.”

The second branch exists for survivors who lived with, or relied on, the person who abused them. It runs from the date that dependency ends, so a survivor who stayed in an abuser’s household or under an abuser’s financial control into adulthood can have a later deadline than the seven-year branch gives.

CHILD USA notes two limits on the face of the section: it contains no discovery rule tied to when the survivor understood the injury, and no age-based starting point beyond the ordinary tolling of limitation periods for minors. How long minority delays accrual is governed by Indiana’s general tolling statute, which a lawyer can apply to the survivor’s dates. For a survivor abused in childhood, the date the seven years began is therefore the first question to put to a lawyer.

Adult Survivors: Two Years

The general tort period applies to an assault on an adult. Section 34-11-2-4(a) requires an action for injury to person or character “must be commenced within two (2) years after the cause of action accrues.” That period is short enough that an adult survivor who is weighing a civil claim has reason to speak with a lawyer early, even before deciding whether to file.

The 2024 to 2025 Window Reached One Bankruptcy

Indiana’s only revival provision, § 34-11-2-4(c) and (d), added by P.L.79-2024 effective March 12, 2024, allowed an otherwise barred child sexual abuse action “brought against a congressionally chartered organization that was incorporated before June 16, 1916,” but only by a person who, before January 1, 2024, had participated in a bankruptcy proceeding or settlement “initiated on February 18, 2020” involving that organization. The action had to be commenced “before July 1, 2025.”

CHILD USA identifies the defendant and the bankruptcy as the Boy Scouts of America case. The window has closed, and it never applied to other defendants or to survivors who had not taken part in that bankruptcy.

Organizations and Government Defendants in Indiana

Section 34-11-2-4(b) is written around “an action for injury to a person that results from the sexual abuse of a child,” not around a particular defendant. Whether a school, church, youth program, or employer is legally responsible depends on Indiana negligence law and what the organization knew and did.

A claim against the state, a county, a school corporation, or another public body also involves the Indiana Tort Claims Act, which requires notice to the government before suit. This guide does not summarize its deadlines and form requirements; they belong at the start of any conversation about a public defendant, because a missed notice can end the claim.

Criminal Deadlines Under § 35-41-4-2

Prosecution is the state’s decision and runs on separate deadlines. CHILD USA reviewed Indiana Code § 35-41-4-2 as amended effective July 1, 2025 and reports:

  • No limit (§ 35-41-4-2(c)): “a Class A felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 1 felony or Level 2 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) may be commenced at any time,” except as provided in subsection (e).
  • Before the victim turns 31 (§ 35-41-4-2(e)): child molesting, vicarious sexual gratification, child solicitation, child seduction, sexual misconduct with a minor, and incest, unless subsection (p) applies.
  • Ten years, or four after dependency ends (§ 35-41-4-2(m)): other sex offenses against a child that are not Level 1 or Level 2 felonies and not in subsection (e).
  • New evidence (§ 35-41-4-2(p)): an otherwise barred prosecution under subsection (e) or (m) may begin within five years after the state first discovers sufficient DNA evidence, first learns of a recording that provides sufficient evidence, or the person confesses.
  • General periods (§ 35-41-4-2(a)): five years for a Level 3, 4, 5, or 6 felony and two years for a misdemeanor.

Because Indiana sets these limits by felony level, the same conduct can carry no limit or a deadline depending on how it is charged. The civil periods in § 34-11-2-4 run regardless of whether anyone is charged.

What to Settle in a First Conversation With an Indiana Lawyer

Have these facts ready: your date of birth, the dates of the abuse, whether you lived with or depended on the person who abused you and when that ended, and whether any organization had responsibility for that person. Seven issues follow from those facts:

  1. When did the seven-year period in § 34-11-2-4(b) begin, given the tolling rules for minors?
  2. Does the dependency branch give a later deadline, and what records show when dependency ended?
  3. For an adult assault, when did the two-year period begin?
  4. Is any defendant a public body, and what Tort Claims Act notice is due, to whom, and by when?
  5. Are the facts likely to be charged at a level that removes the criminal deadline, and does a criminal case change anything about the civil timing?
  6. Does the firm represent any likely defendant or its insurer in other matters?
  7. How is the contingency fee calculated, who pays case costs if there is no recovery, and can the case be filed under a pseudonym?

1. Wagner Reese, LLP

  • Location: Indianapolis (primary); additional offices in Bloomington, Carmel, Evansville, Fishers, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Terre Haute, and West Lafayette, Indiana; Champaign, Illinois; Louisville, Kentucky
  • Phone: (888) 204-8440
  • Website: https://www.wagnerreese.com

Wagner Reese is one of Indiana’s most recognized personal injury firms and a leading statewide resource for sexual abuse survivors. The firm represents survivors throughout Indiana, operating from nine Indiana locations covering the full geographic breadth of the state from South Bend in the north to Evansville in the south. Wagner Reese is a member of the National Crime Victim Bar Association and is affiliated with Abuse Guardian, a national network of sexual abuse attorneys.

The firm has earned placement on the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which is limited to the top 1% of attorneys in the United States based on verdicts and settlements achieved for clients. Wagner Reese was also recognized as Best Lawyers in America in 2022 and 2024 and has received additional recognition including America’s Top 100 Attorneys, NADC 2025, Elite Lawyer 2025, Best Law Firms 2025, and Top 100 Trial Lawyers designations.

The firm’s sexual abuse practice is led by Jeff Gibson, who serves as the primary contact for sexual abuse survivors. The legal team includes Stephen M. Wagner, Jason R. Reese, Jeff S. Gibson, Stephanie L. Cassman, Jill E. Reese, Autumn L. Seib, Timothy F. Devereux, Houston A. Hum, and Laura W. Swafford, representing more than 150 combined years of legal experience.

Wagner Reese handles civil sexual abuse cases against clergy, doctors, teachers, coaches, supervisors, medical staff, government agents, and institutions of all types. The firm offers free and fully confidential initial consultations and handles all cases on a contingency fee basis.

2. CohenMalad, LLP

Founded in 1968, CohenMalad, LLP is one of Indiana’s oldest and most established plaintiffs’ firms, with a dedicated Sexual Abuse Litigation Team that has represented survivors for decades. The firm has grown to a team of over 30 attorneys and is recognized for handling complex class actions, mass torts, and institutional abuse cases alongside individual survivor representation.

The Sexual Abuse Litigation Team is led by Gregory L. Laker, a partner with more than 30 years of experience who serves as chair of the team. Laker has handled cases against schools, churches, major corporations, daycare centers, and individuals involving child sexual abuse. He is a member of the Riley Society Board for Riley Hospital for Children and volunteers with survivor advocacy organizations throughout Indiana. Additional team members dedicated to sexual abuse cases include Daniel S. Chamberlain, who brings over 20 years of experience and serves on the Board of the National Crime Victim Bar Association; Gabriel A. Hawkins, a partner on the Sexual Abuse Litigation Team; and Laurel R.K. Gilchrist, who focuses on sexual abuse, medical malpractice, and personal injury with more than 30 years of experience including appellate advocacy and teaching at IU McKinney School of Law. Molly K. McMath also represents plaintiffs in sexual abuse and personal injury cases.

The firm’s attorneys have been trained by mental health professionals to avoid re-traumatization when working with survivors. CohenMalad allows clients to file lawsuits anonymously and prioritizes confidentiality throughout the legal process. The firm handles cases involving church sexual abuse, youth sports abuse, daycare abuse, doctor-on-patient abuse, and child-on-child abuse, among others.

CohenMalad has secured multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements and has a leadership role in several national litigations. The firm’s attorneys have been recognized on Super Lawyers lists and through Best Lawyers in America designations.

3. Garau Germano, P.C.

Garau Germano, P.C. is a plaintiff’s litigation firm established in Indianapolis in 1997, with primary expertise in medical malpractice and a dedicated practice in sexual abuse survivor representation. The firm practices throughout Indiana in both state and federal courts, including the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and welcomes co-counsel and referral arrangements.

Founding partner Jerry A. Garau has more than 25 years of experience representing clients in complex medical negligence and personal injury cases. He was named Indiana Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association in 2019 following a $15 million medical malpractice verdict affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates, is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, and has been named an Indiana Super Lawyer every year since 2012. Garau Germano has received the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, the highest peer rating available.

The firm’s sexual abuse practice is led by Ashley N. Hadler, who has extensive specialized training in working with trauma survivors and is a past vice-chair of the Young Lawyer’s Council of the National Crime Victims Bar Association. Hadler is actively involved in the Prevent Child Abuse Indiana Advisory Board and volunteers as a guardian with the Indianapolis Center for At-Risk Elders. She has spoken at Indiana Trial Lawyers Association seminars on sexual abuse in residential facilities and authored “Civil Sexual Abuse Litigation: A Guide for Survivors.” Hadler handles cases against churches, residential care facilities, daycares, schools, sports teams, and nursing homes throughout Indiana and Illinois.

Notable results include a $460,000 settlement for the adult child of a nursing home rape victim. The firm also lists Super Lawyers member Shan L. Bryant-Haase among its attorneys.

4. The Cline Law Firm, LLC

The Cline Law Firm is a boutique plaintiff’s litigation firm in Carmel, founded by Lance D. Cline, one of Indiana’s most decorated personal injury attorneys. The firm maintains a small team structure that prioritizes individualized attention and consistent attorney access for each client.

Lance D. Cline has devoted his entire 45-year legal career exclusively to representing injured people and their families. He is one of only three Indiana attorneys ever elected to the Inner Circle of Advocates, a national organization limited to 100 of the best plaintiff attorneys in the United States. Selection requires peer nominations from opposing counsel and trial judges, making it among the most rigorous recognition processes in plaintiffs’ law. Cline is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, reserved for the top 1% of trial attorneys nationally. He has been selected as an Indiana Super Lawyer every year since the award’s inception in 2004, was named to Indiana’s Top 10 Lawyers list in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, and was selected to the Top 50 Indiana Super Lawyers list 18 times. Best Lawyers recognized him as Indianapolis Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year in 2011-2012, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, and Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year in 2019 and 2025. The Indiana Trial Lawyers Association named him Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2018.

Attorney Lindsay N. Popejoy is a Super Lawyers-rated member of the firm who is recognized specifically for sexual abuse plaintiff representation. Popejoy graduated from IU McKinney School of Law in 2016 and has worked alongside Cline developing skills in wrongful death, healthcare negligence, and personal injury litigation. She was named to the Order of the Barristers for exceptional skill in oral advocacy. Popejoy brings a personal commitment to survivor advocacy and focuses on cases where her legal expertise can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who have been wronged.

The firm has obtained multiple seven-figure jury verdicts and has settled more than 100 cases for seven-figure amounts. All consultations are free, and the firm works on a contingency fee basis. Appointments are available after hours and on weekends.

5. Garau Germano, P.C. — Alternative: CohenMalad Sexual Abuse Litigation Team

For survivors specifically seeking institutional sexual abuse litigation, including clergy abuse, school abuse, or large-scale class action representation, CohenMalad’s dedicated Sexual Abuse Litigation Team (detailed above) is particularly well-positioned, having handled cases against major institutions and corporations with national reach. Survivors needing class action or mass tort representation in addition to individual civil claims should consider contacting CohenMalad directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was abused at 12 and lived with my abuser until I was 23. Which deadline applies?

The later of two dates under § 34-11-2-4(b): seven years after the cause of action accrued, or four years after you stopped being dependent on the abuser. If dependency ended at 23, the second branch runs to 27, and a lawyer can compare that with the date produced by the seven-year branch.

Is there a discovery rule for childhood abuse in Indiana?

Not on the face of § 34-11-2-4(b). CHILD USA notes that the section measures time from accrual or the end of dependency, not from when a survivor understood the injury.

Can I still use the 2024 revival window?

No. It required filing before July 1, 2025, and it applied only to claims against one congressionally chartered organization by people who had taken part in its 2020 bankruptcy before January 1, 2024.

Can a civil case go forward if the abuser was never charged?

Yes. The civil periods in § 34-11-2-4 do not depend on a criminal case, and a civil claim is decided under its own standard of proof.

Support and Reporting Lines

Firms appear on this page based on publicly available information, and inclusion is not an endorsement.

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